Dove affair isn't just for the birds

Published 3:43 pm, Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Rescued doves Ella, Basie and Charlie, named after jazz legends, live in a backyard sanctuary called Birdland.

Rescued doves Ella, Basie and Charlie, named after jazz legends, live in a backyard sanctuary called Birdland.

Photo: Jeff Dao

Dove affair isn't just for the birds

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With a resident flock of six doves in her backyard sanctuary dubbed Birdland, Jo-Anne Dao recognizes that now some might consider her a "dove person." She insists hosting birds was most definitely not on her list of things to do, but to her surprise, she couldn't be happier.

I am a wildlife rehabilitation volunteer at the Peninsula Humane Society in Burlingame. One day, I was surprised to find a pair of domestic ringneck doves in our recovery room. It turned out that another wildlife rescue group had used them as live bait to help lure a hawk out of a high school gymnasium. It worked - at least for the hawk, which was rescued and released. But here we were, now tending to the wounded doves. Because they weren't wild, we kept them in a small but comfortable cage in one of our offices, where I dropped in often to visit them.

They were so sweet, I was sure they'd have no trouble being adopted. That's why I was surprised when I was told that "it'll take a long time since there are so many doves and pigeons out there." I like to think I'm pretty in tune with animal issues but this was the first time I heard this about doves and pigeons. Knowing that these two gentle creatures had such a horrifying ordeal, I couldn't bear the thought of them trapped in a small cage indefinitely. I decided to adopt them.

I went home and started researching everything I needed to know for happy, healthy doves. There was never any doubt they would live out their days in an outdoor aviary, and I had the perfect spot to build one in my backyard. I had just three requirements. It must be comfortable and safe for the doves; enhance the beauty of our yard; and be something I could enjoy. I didn't want to just look at my birds through wire. I wanted a place where I could share their world.

The result is Birdland, an aviary built from beautiful redwood. Drawing inspiration from the Peninsula Humane Society, I decorated the interior with natural elements: real tree branches, an edible garden, a water feature, and lots of natural perching spots, including a garden bench for me. The aviary turned out to be gorgeous inside and outside. As homage to the builders, who also happen to be two talented jazz musicians, we named the doves after legends Ella and Basie.

Since then, we have adopted four more doves, one from the Peninsula Humane Society and three from MickaCoo. In keeping with tradition, their names are Charlie, Lena, Louie and Thelonius. Mornings, I love to sit in Birdland with my cup of coffee and watch Lena and Louie snuggle in their nest. Long phone calls are conducted sitting on the bench while Thelonius finds choice greens in the garden. Having a stressful day? No problem, I know just here to go. When I say Birdland is a dove sanctuary, I sometimes wonder for who; the doves or me? Maybe a little of both.

And in case you were wondering, Birdland refers to the New York City landmark jazz club named after the late, great Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. But you knew that.